Calgary gets major funding boost to electrify buses

The City of Calgary has received a CAD$325 million (US$246 million) commitment from the Canadian government to support the transition of its bus fleet to zero emissions.

The funding is being provided through the Zero Emission Transit Fund, and is in addition to the CAD$165 million received from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) for the same project.

Calgary plans to purchase and deploy up to 259 electric buses – about a quarter of the city’s current diesel and compressed natural gas-fuelled fleet – and complete infrastructure upgrades to two existing transit garages to house and charge the new vehicles.

“This contribution will allow us to transition the transit fleet to zero-emission vehicles more quickly and adds to funding already secured through council,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

“When it comes to climate change, we are committed to taking actions which are both economically and environmentally sustainable.”

Pilot

The city is targeting a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as part of its Green Fleet Strategy.

Calgary Transit ordered 14 electric buses from Vicinity Motor Corp. in 2021 and they will be part of the transit provider’s electric bus pilot, which is expected to launch later this year.

According to the city, the pilot will help Calgary Transit gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of integrating electric buses into its fleet.

“Shifting bus fleets towards zero-emission buses is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while investing in people’s quality of life,” said Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

Chicago doubles fleet

Last Friday, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) also announced plans to double its all-electric bus fleet with the purchase of 22 new buses, which are expected to be rolled out in early 2025.

As part of the agency’s Charging Forward Plan, the move aims to convert the agency’s entire bus fleet – which currently stands at over 1,800 – to electric by 2040.

“Expanding our electric bus fleet will allow us to extend the benefits of all-electric buses to even more vulnerable communities on the South and West sides of Chicago, which are adversely impacted by higher rates of harmful pollutants,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr.

“We look forward to rolling out these new vehicles in the near future, which will not only help reduce harmful emissions in communities, but also provide our riders with a more reliable and quieter transit experience.”

Since unveiling the Charging Forward Plan last year, CTA has received US$29 million in grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration to be used towards the purchase of fully accessible, all-electric buses, as well as bus facility communication and safety improvements to accommodate the new vehicles.

Image: city of Calgary